Cardiac Chamber Volumes, Function, and Mass as Determined by 64-Multidetector Row Computed Tomography. Mean Values Among Healthy Adults Free of Hypertension and Obesity

Objectives: We derived mean values for cardiac dimensions, volumes, function, and mass in a normotensive nonobese population free of cardiovascular disease. Background: Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) permits study of cardiac chamber size, function, and mass. Age- and gender-specific mean values are not available. Methods: A total of 103 normotensive, nonobese adults (43% women, age 51 ± 14 years) who presented consecutively to 2 medical centers for clinically indicated MDCTs with neither history of nor MDCT evidence of significant cardiovascular disease were studied for left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) end-systolic (ES) and end-diastolic (ED) linear dimensions and volumes; LV and RV ejection fraction (EF), and LV mass (LVM); and left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) end-systolic volumes (LAESV and RAESV, respectively) by 1-dimensional (1D), 2-dimensional (2D), and 3-dimensional (3D) measurements. Results: The LV volumes using 3D techniques were lower than 2D techniques (LVEDV mean 144 ± 71 ml vs. 150 ± 70 ml), with higher LVEF (63 ± 15% vs. 57 ± 13%) (p < 0.001 for both). Mean LVM/height^2.7 was 24.3 ± 11.0 g/m^2.7 and mean relative wall thickness was 0.16 to 0.44. Evaluation by 20 versus 10 cardiac phases resulted in higher LVEF (mean difference: 3.4 ± 9.0%, p < 0.001). For LVEDV, interobserver (r = 0.99, p < 0.001) and intraobserver (r² = 0.97, p < 0.001) correlations were high. Mean RVEDV was 82 ± 57 ml and RVEF was 58 ± 16. The LAESV determined by 3D techniques was higher than by that determined by 2D methods (102 ± 48 ml vs. 87 ± 57 ml, p = 0.0003). The RAESV determined by 3D techniques was 111.9 ± 29.1 ml. The LV size and LVM were greater in men than in women (p < 0.01). The LV size declined with age (p < 0.01), but LVM did not. Conclusions: This study establishes age- and gender-specific values for LV, RV, LA, and RA size, function, and mass in adults free of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and obesity using 1D, 2D, and 3D methods. These data can be used as a reference for future MDCT studies.